Sounding device.



N0,- 839335, PATENTED JUNE 2,- 1908.

J. v. MARTIN.

SOUNDING DEVICE.

AEPLIQATION rILnD Anus, um.

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No. 889,385. PATBNTED JUNE 2, 190.

, J..V. MARTIN.

SOUNDING DEVICE. APPLICATION PI'LED n.zz, 1901.

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.IAMES V. MARTIN, OF SEATTLE,

soUNDnvG DEVICE. j; Y Y

Specication of Letters Patent.

WASHINGTON, ASSIGNOR OF ON E-HALF TO CHARLES ELLET, l- OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

Patented June 2, 1908.

Application filed April 22, 1907. Serial No. 369,708.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES V. MARTIN, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of the city of Seattle, in the county of King and State of Washington, have in-` vented certain new and useful Improvements in Sounding Devices, of which the following is a specification. v

My invention aims primarily to provide an improved device of the nature indicated through the medium of which soundings can be taken in an eflicient manner.

A further object of my invention is to so support the sounding device that it will not be affected by any rolling or listing of the boat, and further, to provide novel means for resisting accidental rising of the contact member from the bed ofthe body of water.

Other objects will be referred to as the description progresses.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals of reference, indicate like parts throughout: Figure 1 is a view in side elevation showing my improved sounding device in operation, the lower portion thereof being taken on line 1 1 of Fig. 2

and illustrating by broken lines, the same elevated as when not in use. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view on enlarged scale, of the invention as viewed from the rear, parts being shown in section. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view on enlarged scale showing more clearly the outer end portion of the support on the boat and the mechanism mounted thereon. Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is an enlarged view in side elevation of the main contact member and the lower portion of the supporting frame to which it is secured. Fig. 6 is a section taken on line 6 6 of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a detail view of one of the indicators for the auxiliary contact members, a portion of the front wall of the casing in which the spring is housed, being broken away. Fig. 8 is a horizontal sectional view thereof, and Fig. 9 is a cross sectional view of the shafts rotatably supported on the arm of the sounding device.

Reference numeral 1 indicates the hull of a boat, provided at its bow with a fixed support 2 which projects well forwardly thereof. Support 2 is provided with'a ferrule 3 having edge flanges 3', formino` therebetween a continuous groove or track in which a carrier 4 rotatably engages. Carrier 4 which is circular in plan is provided at diametrically opposite points on its exterior with outwardly projecting stub shafts 5 on which arms 6 of the swing arm 7 of the sounding device are journaled. Arm 7 as now constructed is of open formation for the purpose of decreasing .sie r the resistance in its passage through the.

water, the same comprising side members 7 in the form of comparatively thin metallic bars which are held in their spaced relation by bolts 8, but I do not limit myself to this particular form of means for supporting the contact members which will now be described. A

The main contact member comprises a body section 9 whose underface provides a comparatively broad bearing surface for contact with the bed of the body of water, and this body portion 9 is provided at its forward end with arms 10 which are secured as by bolts to side members 7, and at its rear end with rearwardly and upwardly projecting arms 11. The free end portions of arms l1 are reduced in thickness to form tongues 12 which are apertured, and at the base of these tongues are shoulders 12.

Reference numeral 13 indicates what I term a rudder, the same being formed with longitudinal slots 14. This rudder-consists of a body of sheet metal of sufficient surface dimensions to create, when tilted, either a downwardly or upwardly directed force component, this depending on the set of said rudder, as will be hereinafter more fully described. Rudder 13 is supported for swinging and sliding on shoulders 12 and tongues and have their projecting ends provided with pins 15 whereby displacement of the rudder is prevented. At its forward edge, rudder 13 is provided with an extension 16 which is fitted between side members 7 and provided at its side edges with guides 17 which are slidably engaged in slots 18 formed in said side members 7.

The means for adjusting the rudder to different angles relatively to the direction of travel of the boat so as to cause the sounding device to lower and be held lowered while the boat is traveling, or to cause the same to rise, consists of an endless cable 19 to one run of y12 project through the slots 14 of saidrudder l which extension 16 is fastened. Cable 19V fathoms.

passes over a sheave 20 journaled on a shaft, in the lower end portion of arm 7, and has its runs passing through respective guides 21 on stub shafts 5, to a winding drum 22 arranged on the boat.

At each side of the main contact member are a plurality, there being two shown, of auxiliary contact members, indicated at 23 and 23 respectively, the respective pairs of auxiliary contact members being supported to swing independently of said main contact member and of one another. These auxiliary contact members, as now considered, are formedby suitably bending the lower end portions of rods 24, 24.

Rods 24 are fixed at one side of arm 7 to a shaft 25, journaled in a hollow shaft 25', the inner of said rods projecting through a slot 26 in shaft 25 while the outer rod is fixed to the projecting end portion of shaft 25 (see Fig. 2) and rods 24 are fixed to shaft 25 at the opposite side of arm 7.

`27, 27 indicate lever arms, the former being fixed to shaft 25 and the latter to shaft 25. Lever arm 27 projects through a slot 28 in shaft 25. Shaft 25 is journaled in a tubular bearing 29 supported in angular bracket members 30 which are fixed to side members 7 a suitable distance above their lower ends so as to project rearwardly therefrom.

Associated with the main contact member is an indicator 3l for indicating, within predetermined limits, the depth of the water beneath the boat, and associated with the auxiliary contact members are indicators 32, which will, should they by encountering any rises in the bed of the body of water, not be permitted to swing downwardly to a level with the main contact member indicate the difference in depth at the respective points of the main and the auxiliary contact members, as will be explained later. Indicator 3l comprises a dial which as herein illustrated may be graduated and provided with suitable marks of indication to indicate This dial is fixed to a bracket arm 32a fixed to carrier 4 and has a pointer or finger 33 movable over its face. Pointer or finger 33 Vis fixed to one end of shaft 34, journaled in bracket arm 32, and on the other end of this shaft is a beveled gear 35 in mesh With a similar gear 36 carried by a cross shaft, journaled in an upright support 37 formed integral with carrier 4 at one side of bracket arm 32a. On the outer end of this cross shaft is a pinion 38 to which the forward and aft swinging movement of arm 7 is communicated by a toothed segment 39 fixed to one of the arms.

Suitable flexible connections 40 are secured to lever arms 27, 27 and pass upwardly through guide eyes 41 each to its respective indicator 32 where it is wound on drum 41 and secured. Both indicators 32 are identical in construction and a description of one will therefore suffice. This comprises a pointer 42 movable over a dial 43, graduated and marked to indicate fractions of a fathom, as for example feet, and this dial, as now considered, forms the front wall of a casing 44 in which a coiled spring 45 is housed. Pointer 42 is fixed to a shaft 46 which projects through casing 44 and having fixed on its projecting end portion drumv 4]. Spring 45 is fixed to shaft 46 and to the casing (see Figs. 7 and S) and is so wound as to at all times exert pressure which will tend to return the pointer to its normal position at Zero. /Vhen however, the auxiliary contact members are swung rearwardly and thereby raised, the pull on fiexible connection 40 will overcome the resistance offered by spring 45 and move pointer 42 the proper distance over the face of the dial.

In operation, the rudder is set as shown in Figs. 1 and 5 or the forward end portion of said rudder can be lowered to a greater .degree as desired, and the contact members will therefore be prevented from being swung upwardly by the resistance offered by the water when the boat is in motion. When it is desired to raise the sounding device, the rudder is moved to the position shown in broken lines in Fig. 5 whereupon the action of the water thereon will be such as to force the lower portion of arm 7 upwardly where it can be engaged by chains or other suitable means and secured and supported substantially as illustrated by dotted lines in Fig. 1. 1t will be noted that arm 7 is offset at 7u so that I am enabled to support the lower portion of said arm, when the device is elevated in a substantially horizontal position directly beneath the keel of the vessel. It will further be observed that the respective indicator mechanisms` are so arranged that they will move with arm 7 and like it, be unaffected by rolling or listing of the boat. Readings of the indicators can be taken from the boat as the dialsface the same as clearly shown.

Having thus described my invention, what l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States of America,

1. In combination with the vessel, a support projecting outwardly from one end thereof, and a sounding device comprising an arm swingingly supported on said support so that it can be elevated and lowered, the lower portion of said arm extending at an angle to the upper portion thereof, whereby when the arm is swung to an elevated position, the lower portion thereof will extend beneath the vessel in a substantially horizontal plane.

2. In combination with the vessel, a support projecting outwardly therefrom, a track on said support, a carrier rotatably engaged on said track for swinging at substantially right angles to the longitudinal aXis of said vessel, and a sounding device swingingly connected to said carrier.

3. In combination with the vessel, a support projecting outwardly therefrom, a carrier rotatably mounted on said support, a sounding device connected to said carrier, and an indicator comprising` a dial and pointer supported entirely on said carrier and related to said sounding device to indicate the soundings thereof.

4. In combination with the vessel, a support secured thereto, a sounding device Supported on said support for swinging and provided with a toothed segment, and an indicator mechanism including a pinion in mesh with said toothed segmentpfor the purpose specified.

5. In combination with the vessel, a support projecting outwardly therefrom, a carrier rotatably mounted on said support, a sounding device swingingly connected to said carrier and provided with a toothed segment, and an indicator mechanism supported on said carrier including a pinion in mesh with the toothed segment of said sounding device, for the purpose specified.

6. In combination with the vessel, a sounding device supported on said vessel so that it canl be raisedand lowered, and means on said sounding device arranged by the resistance offered it by the water during its passage through the same to create a downwardly directed force component which opposes any rising tendency of the lower portion of said sounding device.

7. In combination with thevessel, a sounding device supported on said vessel so that it can be raised and lowered, and a rudder inclined upwardly in a rearward direction for creating a downwardly directed force component which opposes any rising tendency of the lower portion of said sounding device, when said vessel is moving in a forward direction.

8. In combination with the vessel, a sounding device supported on said vessel so that it can be raised and lowered, a rudder adjustably mounted on said sounding device and being normally inclined upwardly in a rearward direction, and means to adjust said rudder from said vessel to vary the inclination thereof, for the purpose specified.

9. In combination with the vessel, a sounding device supported on said vessel so that it can be raised and lowered, a rudder supported on said sounding device and being adjustable to either forwardly or rearwardly inclined position, and means to adjust said rudder.

10. In combination with the vessel, a support secured thereto, a sounding device comprising an arm swingingly connected to said Support, and provided at its lower portion with a contact member, an inclined rudder pivoted on said contact member, and means controlled from said vessel to vary the inclination of said rudder, for the purpose specified.

11. In combination with the vessel, a support secured thereto, a sounding device comprising an arm swingingly connected to said support, and provided at its lower portion with a contact member, a rudder supported for swinging on said contact member and having guide means slidably engaged with said arm, and means operated from said vessel to swing said rudder, for the purpose specified.

12. In combination with the vessel, a support secured thereto, a sounding device comprising an arm swingingly connected to said support and provided at its lower' portion with a contact member having rearwardly and upwardly projecting arms, a rudder swingingly supported on the arms of said contact member and having its forward portion provided with guide means slidably engaged with said arm, and means operated from said vessel to swing said rudder, for the purpose specified. Y

13. In .combination with the vessel, a sounding device swingingly supported thereon, a rudder carried by said sounding device and being pivoted intermediate its ends, a sheave supported for rotation below said rudder, a drum on said vessel, and an endless cable passing over said sheave and said drum, said rudder being connected to one run of said cable, for the purpose specified.

14. In combination with the vessel, a sounding device com rising an arm provided with main and auXi iary contact members, and indicator means for indicating vindependent soundings of said main and auxiliary contact members. v

15. In combination with the vessel, a sounding device comprising an arm provided with a contact member, an indicator connected to indicate soundings made by said contact member, a second contact member supported on said arm for operation independently of said first contact member, and another indicator operatively connected to said second contact member for the purpose specified.

16. In combination with the vessel, a`

on said arm and being spaced apart in a direction laterally of the. direction of movement of said vessel.

18. In combination with the vessel, a supi port thereon, a carrier rotatably mounted on said support, an arm swingingly connected to said carrier, a plurality of independently operating contact members supported on said arm and being spaced apart 1n a direc-I tion laterally of the direction'of movement of said vessel, and indicators connected for indicating the soundings of the respective Contact members.

19. In combination With the vessel, a support thereon, a carrier rotatably mounted on said support, an arm swingingly connected to said carrier, a plurality of independently operating contact members supported on said arm and being spaced apart in a direction laterally of the direction of movement of said vessel, and indicators mounted on said carrier and being connected for indicating the soundings of the respective contact' members.

20. In combination With the vessel, a support thereon, a carrier rotatably mounted on said support, an arm swingingly connected to said carrier, a shaft rotatably supported on said arm and projecting outwardly therefrom, arms fixed to said shaft and provided with contact members, a contact member on said first named arm, and indicators connected to indicate the soundings of the respective contact members.

21. In combination with the vessel, a support thereon, a carrier rotatably mounted on said support, an arm swingingly connected to said carrier, a contact member on the lower portion vof said arm, shafts rotatably supported on said arm and projecting outwardly from opposite sides thereof, contact members iiXed to said shafts, and indicator means for indicating the -soundings of the respective contact members. 4

Signed at Seattle, Washington this day of March 1907.

' JAMES V. MARTIN. Witnesses:

ARLITA ADAMS.

EDWARD W. CREssMAN. 

